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Al Sharpton on Foreign PolicyReverend; Civil Rights Activist; Democratic Candidate for President |
SHARPTON: Bush says we give political asylum to people coming from Cuba, but he says we would not do it from Haiti. I think that the real issue is why this country continues to block resources there that could have built the infrastructure, provided jobs; why we blocked a $500 million approved loan from the World Bank. I think that we’ve got a responsibility. I’m disappointed in some things President Aristide has done. I said that to him on the phone. I’ve said that to the opposition leaders. But I do not think we can undermine a democracy. And we can’t have different strokes for different folks at the border in Miami.
SHARPTON: The Sharpton doctrine of foreign policy would be to support emerging democratic nations, and those nations that are underdeveloped, with real trade and aid. There are billions of people around the world that need clean water systems, clean sanitation systems. We don’t need to only talk about a military presence. We need to talk about a humanitarian presence, a development presence. And that that would aid our country in developing the intelligence that would protect Americans.
We need to project to the world that we’re their friends rather than their cop. They know we’re a superpower. The question is: Can we be a super-help in the time of need? If we prove to be, we would have those people as our allies as we go after bin Laden.
SHARPTON: The problems in terms of [restricting] movement toward open elections, toward a clear repression there, is something that we must be concerned about. But I do not, in any way, shape or form, support a military intervention. I would try as best I could as president to use the power of diplomacy, the power of our trade and business with Iran, and our ability to communicate with all sides. And I would support the UN to try to bring about some kind of stabilized order there and some kind of dialogue.
I think that we have an obligation to try to support democracy anywhere we can in the world. But I think that we’ve got to do it by supporting the United Nations and not undercutting it by going around it or by going in a way that would undermine the ability to bring these matters into some order.
A: When you say that they’re saying now that unless you help us, or unless you engage with us, you can’t engage in contracts. That is, again, purporting the same unilateral intervention that began this war, is the philosophy of this war, in the beginning. We must unequivocally say -- we must go to Kofi Annan and the UN and say, “This body or some body must take over the restructuring and redevelopment of Iraq; we will participate as partners,” and withdraw.